---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 636h"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "636h"
heading: "Disaster planning responsibilities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/636h"
units:
  - "Chapter 14A — Aid to Small Business"
---

# §636h. Disaster planning responsibilities

- (a) **Assignment of Small Business Administration disaster planning responsibilities—** The [disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) planning function of the [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) shall be assigned to an individual appointed by the [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1) who—
  - (1) is not an employee of the Office of [Disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) Assistance of the [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1);
  - (2) has proven management ability;
  - (3) has substantial knowledge in the field of [disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) readiness and emergency response; and
  - (4) has demonstrated significant experience in the area of [disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) planning.
- (b) **Responsibilities—** The individual assigned the [disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) planning function of the [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) shall report directly and solely to the [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1) and shall be responsible for—
  - (1) creating, maintaining, and implementing the comprehensive [disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) response plan of the [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) described in [section 636g of this title](/usc/15/636g.md);
  - (2) ensuring there are in-service and pre-service training procedures for the [disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) response staff of the [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1);
  - (3) coordinating and directing the training exercises of the [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) relating to [disasters](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1), including [disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) simulation exercises and [disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) exercises coordinated with other government departments and [agencies](/usc/15/632.md?p=b); and
  - (4) other responsibilities relevant to [disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) planning and readiness, as determined by the [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1).
- (c) **Coordination—** In carrying out the responsibilities described in [subsection (b)](#b), the individual assigned the [disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) planning function of the [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) shall coordinate with—
  - (1) the Office of [Disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) Assistance of the [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1);
  - (2) the [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1) of the Federal Emergency Management [Agency](/usc/15/632.md?p=b); and
  - (3) other Federal, [State](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2), and local [disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) planning offices, as necessary.
- (d) **Resources—** The [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1) shall ensure that the individual assigned the [disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) planning function of the [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) has adequate resources to carry out the duties under this section.
- (e) **Report—** Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1) shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report containing—
  - (1) a description of the actions of the [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1) to assign an individual the [disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) planning function of the [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1);
  - (2) information detailing the background and expertise of the individual assigned; and
  - (3) information on the status of the implementation of the responsibilities described in [subsection (b)](#b).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 110–234, title XII, § 12073, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1413; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title XII, § 12073, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2175.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The date of enactment of this Act, referred to in subsec. (e), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–246, which was approved June 18, 2008.

### Codification

Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 enacted identical sections. Pub. L. 110–234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

Section was enacted as part of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, and also as part of the Small Business Disaster Response and Loan Improvements Act of 2008, and not as part of the Small Business Act which comprises this chapter.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Enactment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture.